A mandate for the UNHRC

In adopting a country-specific resolution against Sri Lanka that calls upon the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner to “undertake a comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka,” the UN Human Rights Council has again brought the focus as much on the killings in the last phase of the civil war in Sri Lanka, as on the international investigation into issues in a sovereign state. No progress has been made to fix responsibility for the mass killings in the last phase of the civil war in 2009. The resolution, co-sponsored by 41 countries and piloted by the U.S., contended that Sri Lanka has failed to achieve reconciliation following the end of the three-decade long civil war. But it does not build on the earlier resolutions against Sri Lanka; it rather marks a worrying point of departure. So far, the emphasis has been on ‘encouraging’ and ‘urging’ Sri Lanka. The new mandate of the international investigative mechanism is open-ended. Opponents of the resolution were against the imposition of an international investigation by expanding the role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the Special Procedures of the HRC. The resolution includes many prescriptive elements. The U.S. sees the vote as an act that seeks to push Sri Lanka into pursuing lasting peace, and wants to drive home the point that justice and accountability cannot wait.

India was in the limelight at the 25th session of the HRC. It had unconditionally backed Sri Lanka in the 2009 session, soon after the end of the war. It went to the other extreme and voted against Sri Lanka in 2012 and 2013. In fact, in 2013 it even worked to make the language of the resolution harsher. The same conditions as in 2013 exist now: elections to the Northern provincial council were held in September 2012. The Tamil Nadu factor that had influenced India’s vote the last time round seems to have lost steam with the Congress and the DMK parting ways. In any case, it is debatable if even at its height it would have overcome India’s long-standing opposition to intrusive international investigations as envisaged by the latest resolution. By voting twice against Sri Lanka in the past years, India had already antagonised the majority Sinhala community. With India abstaining this time, the northern Tamils seem to have lost faith in India. Not many believe anything will change for Tamils in Sri Lanka if the OHCHR carries out the investigation. An intrusive investigation has so far not yielded genuine reconciliation, and a life of dignity and self-respect for people anywhere. Sri Lanka can’t be any different.

India says to the World that Jammu and Kashmir issue/humanrights violation should not be interfered by any country. Hence India has correctly refrained from poking its nose in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.

from:
P.S.Subba Raman

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 20:41 IST

I think it's a good diplomatic decision by india to improve relationship by our neighboring countries.Due to china's 'string of pearls' theory india is little worry about making good relationship to his neighbor countries. Just after india's decision to restrain himself from voting, a news came that sri lanka is freeing fisherman of india. I think this is victory of india. Apart from that nothing changed, because From last two times india voted against sri lanka and this instead abstaining him self india's motive full filled, because resolution passed in favour of international probe.

from:
Aditya

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 17:24 IST

India's changed decision and abstaining this time to vote shows its week decision making in international relations.In India everything,including international relations, is influenced by vote bank politics.Since it wanted some votes from TamilNadu, it voted against Sri Lanka.India will grow only when it starts thinking outside of vote bank politics.Hope the new government will act wisely!

from:
J.Shakthi Yokesh

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 15:51 IST

So...... Anthony Peter is not a Sinhalese,Tamil,Indian or Chinees?!!! Mate... according to some of you like guys,Killinochchi to SL Army was like Stalingrad for Germans. Hope you understand.

from:
Ravi

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 15:17 IST

The statement "Not many believe anything will change for Tamils in Sri Lanka if the OHCHR carries out the investigation. An intrusive investigation has so far not yielded genuine reconciliation, and a life of dignity and self-respect for people anywhere. Sri Lanka canât be any different" is shows the ignorance and the shalow knowledge of the writer on this subbject.

Rajapaksa regime believe that the attrocities and crimes against Tamils will wade away from the minds of international community as times go by. Infact it has been able to succeed to some extent on this by telling the world that it's doing an internal investingation.

This has been supported by their partners in crime by countires like like India, China, Russina and Pakistan. Killing of civilians of is thousands cannot be hiddedn for long.

If there is no justice there will not be peace!

from:
Sathya

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 14:54 IST

This is like a blabber from a deaf & dumb and merits nothing.

from:
Gb selvaganesan

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 14:50 IST

You are going to see an unprecedented event in the Indian Subcontinent. India abstained from voting at the UHHRC this week; however the resolution passed for the West to get a foothold in India's backyard. India must takeover Sri Lanka, or let the West to takeover Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean. I have been commenting this through the online news agencies, well before Russians took over Crimea. I really don't think the Rajapaksa regime can deal with the current situation smartly. As I predicted the momentum has started in favour of the West; the US backed UNHRC resolution would lead to a bloody disaster in the Indian Ocean. I really donât think the Rajapaksa brothers can handle it from now on. If they do, it will be the greatest miracle in the 21st century. The West has been ruling the world for the last 700 years; its knowledge and power are beyond the comprehension of the Sinhalese, Tamil, Indian and Chinese. Therefore, India must act quickly, diligently and extremely carefully.

from:
Antany Peter

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 14:13 IST

1984 Delhi massacre,Gujarath massacre,Maoists'fight - do these crimes draw the attention of UNHRC?

from:
M Narayana Bhat

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 13:38 IST

Sovereign states does not mean, the government can kill their people almost 70 years.

Nowadays divorce is common and you cannot say court interfering in the family matters. When One complain, it is international duty to at least protect some extent (may not be totally protected).

Where were you when they made us (Tamils brought to Sri Lanka about 150 years ago) stateless in 1949? Our people still lives like slaves in estate. Can you raise this in UN?

from:
Sukarno

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 10:52 IST

As long India,keep Kashmir issue alive, it will not help protect the human rights violation anywhere in the world,fearing its own case,if matters later.India already lost the confidence of the Tamils and the Singalese as well,Nothing prevents for India to be judicious,fair and honest in all its dealings whereever ethnicity is concerned.India`s role in recent UNHRC is still not matured enough to handle any issue fairly and boldly,owing to its ineffective and defective foreign policy interests.Of course it fuels the upcoming general election in India, to the disadvantage of the Congress and its erstwhile ally the DMK.It is imperative, that India need a strong leadership and radical change in its foreign affairs perceptions.India`s inept policy either satisfies the Singalese nor the Tamils in Sri lanaka. Sri lanka should remain united and be fair to all its minorities without discrimination.How can India can tolerate a kind of apartheid is followed in a neighbouring Sri lanka>

from:
Sundaram

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 08:59 IST

India is an accomplice in the atrocities committed by the government of SriLanka. It is hard to imagine that India did not know about the atrocities going on inits closest neighbour. The island was full of RAW agents during the period in question, and India provided intelligence information to the Sri Lankan forces. These have been reported widely. A book remains to be written on the role India played in the recently concluded war in Sri Lanka. Perhaps in years to come someone in the ranks of Indian intelligence services will write a book on the subject.

from:
Udayan

Posted on: Mar 29, 2014 at 04:09 IST

A genuine reconciliation can be achieved only by accepting the crime committed by the parties. However in Srilanka even vast majority of the Sinhalese with good intentions do not want to believe the crimes committed by their govt on Tamils because they think all the media report is biased. A UN investigation may open their eyes and lead to justice and reconciliation